Scholarships in Ireland at a glance
Quick read
- Ireland's flagship award is the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship: a full tuition waiver plus a €10,000 stipend for one year, with 60 awards a year.
- Universities offer partial awards from 10% off tuition up to full fee waivers; UCD alone runs several schemes for non-EU students, including one for Indian STEM undergraduates.
- Many university awards are assessed automatically when you receive an offer; the bigger ones need a separate application.
- The 2026 government call closed on 12 March 2026. Check the official page for the next call, which has not been announced yet.
- Indian trusts and Erasmus Mundus joint master's can add to Irish funding.
Ireland's universities are publicly funded but charge non-EU students full fees, so most scholarships take the form of fee reductions. The national Government of Ireland scholarship is the most generous and is open to Indian students at master's and PhD level. Below that, each university has its own merit awards.
Values below are as published by each provider for the latest cycle. Check the official page before you apply, because terms change from year to year.
Types of scholarships in Ireland
- 01
Government of Ireland scholarship
Run by the Higher Education Authority for non-EU master's and PhD students: one year's fees plus a stipend.
- 02
University fee reductions
Automatic or application-based awards from 10% up to 100% of tuition, depending on your grades and the university.
- 03
Subject and country awards
Targeted awards such as UCD's Aryabhata Science Scholarship for Indian STEM undergraduates.
- 04
EU and Indian funding
Erasmus Mundus joint master's with Irish partners, and Indian trusts that fund postgraduate study abroad.
All scholarships in one table
| Scholarship | Type | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) (opens in a new tab)Higher Education Authority (Government of Ireland) | Government | Master's, postgraduate diploma and PhD | Full tuition fee waiver plus a €10,000 stipend for one year; 60 awards a year |
| UCD Global Excellence Scholarship (opens in a new tab)University College Dublin | University | Bachelor's and master's | 50% or 100% of tuition |
| UCD International Student Scholarship (opens in a new tab)University College Dublin | University | Bachelor's and master's | 10% to 35% off tuition |
| UCD Aryabhata Science Scholarship (opens in a new tab)University College Dublin | University | Bachelor's | 50% to 100% tuition fee waiver |
| DCU International Merit Scholarships (opens in a new tab)Dublin City University | University | Bachelor's and master's | Partial fee reductions; check the scholarship page for the current amounts |
| Trinity Global Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Trinity College Dublin | University | Taught master's | €2,000 to €5,000 off the first-year tuition fee, depending on the region |
| Jim Kemmy India Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick | University | Bachelor's (BA International Business, Bachelor of Business Studies) | €4,000 a year for the four years of the degree, if you keep up your progression |
| Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust (Tata Trusts) | Foundation | Master's | A gift towards part of the tuition fee, about ₹3 lakh to ₹6 lakh depending on the interview |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarships (opens in a new tab)European Union (Erasmus+, through university consortia) | European Union | Master's | Full scholarships for outstanding applicants; what they cover is set by each programme, so check its own page |
| K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad (opens in a new tab)K.C. Mahindra Education Trust | Foundation | Master's and PhD | Interest-free loan scholarship of up to ₹10 lakh for the top three, and up to ₹5 lakh for others |
| J N Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship (opens in a new tab)J N Tata Endowment (Tata Trusts) | Foundation | Master's, PhD and postdoctoral | Loan scholarship; the amount is decided case by case after an interview |
| Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship (opens in a new tab)Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation | Foundation | Master's | Full or part scholarships given as repayable, interest-free financial assistance (amount not fixed) |
| National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) (opens in a new tab)Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India | Government | Master's and PhD | Tuition, maintenance and other allowances, paid through Indian Missions abroad; amounts are in the scheme guidelines |
Values are as published by each provider on the date of our research. Most awards are competitive and limited in number, so none of them is guaranteed.
Government scholarships in Ireland
- GovernmentMaster's, postgraduate diploma and PhD
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)
Higher Education Authority (Government of Ireland)
- Value
- Full tuition fee waiver plus a €10,000 stipend for one year; 60 awards a year
- Who can apply
- Non-EU students, including Indian students, with an offer from an Irish higher education institution.
- Deadline or window
- The 2026 call closed at 5pm Irish time on 12 March 2026. The next call date is not yet confirmed; check the official page
- GovernmentMaster's and PhD
National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
- Value
- Tuition, maintenance and other allowances, paid through Indian Missions abroad; amounts are in the scheme guidelines
- Who can apply
- Low-income, meritorious students from the Scheduled Castes, De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans. 125 awards a year, 30% for women. Income, age and marks limits are in the scheme guidelines.
- Deadline or window
- Apply on the NOS portal (nosmsje.gov.in) when the yearly call opens; check the official page
Get a scholarship shortlist for your profileShare your marks, test scores and budget, and our counsellor will match you to Ireland scholarships you can realistically win.
University scholarships in Ireland
- UniversityBachelor's and master's
UCD Global Excellence Scholarship
- Value
- 50% or 100% of tuition
- Who can apply
- Non-EU fee payers holding an offer for an eligible full-time programme. A separate application is needed.
- Deadline or window
- Separate application after you receive an offer; check the scholarship page
- UniversityBachelor's and master's
UCD International Student Scholarship
- Value
- 10% to 35% off tuition
- Who can apply
- Non-EU fee payers on most programmes; assessed automatically when an offer is made.
- Deadline or window
- No separate application
- UniversityBachelor's
UCD Aryabhata Science Scholarship
- Value
- 50% to 100% tuition fee waiver
- Who can apply
- Students from India starting an undergraduate degree at UCD. Check the scholarship page for the eligible subjects.
- Deadline or window
- Not confirmed for 2027. Ask india@ucd.ie or check the scholarship page
- UniversityBachelor's and master's
DCU International Merit Scholarships
- Value
- Partial fee reductions; check the scholarship page for the current amounts
- Who can apply
- Non-EU applicants to DCU programmes, assessed on academic merit.
- Deadline or window
- Check the scholarship page for current dates
- UniversityTaught master's
Trinity Global Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship
- Value
- €2,000 to €5,000 off the first-year tuition fee, depending on the region
- Who can apply
- Non-EU fee payers with an offer for a full-time taught postgraduate programme at Trinity. Business, engineering, natural sciences, and computer science and statistics courses are excluded.
- Deadline or window
- Rolling; for 2026/27 the closing date for most regions was 15 June 2026. Check the official page for 2027/28
- UniversityBachelor's (BA International Business, Bachelor of Business Studies)
Jim Kemmy India Scholarship
Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick
- Value
- €4,000 a year for the four years of the degree, if you keep up your progression
- Who can apply
- Indian students with an average of 75% or more in Class 10 and Class 12, including English and Maths, who meet UL's English requirements.
- Deadline or window
- Not stated; check the official page
European Union scholarships
- European UnionMaster's
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarships
European Union (Erasmus+, through university consortia)
- Value
- Full scholarships for outstanding applicants; what they cover is set by each programme, so check its own page
- Who can apply
- Master's students from all over the world, including India, applying to a joint master's run by a group of European universities. Not every programme offers scholarships. Some joint programmes include Irish universities as partners.
- Deadline or window
- Most programmes take applications between October and January for the following academic year
Trusts and foundations (including Indian trusts)
- FoundationMaster's
Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarship
Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust (Tata Trusts)
- Value
- A gift towards part of the tuition fee, about ₹3 lakh to ₹6 lakh depending on the interview
- Who can apply
- Indian women graduates of a reputed university with a strong academic record, studying in the US, UK or Europe, with a focus on issues affecting women and children (for example social work, public health, psychology, law, education, health policy or human rights). Two years of relevant paid work experience is preferred.
- Deadline or window
- The 2026–27 round closed in April 2026 (link requests closed on 30 March); expect a similar window in early 2027
- FoundationMaster's and PhD
K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad
K.C. Mahindra Education Trust
- Value
- Interest-free loan scholarship of up to ₹10 lakh for the top three, and up to ₹5 lakh for others
- Who can apply
- Indian citizens with a first-class degree (or equivalent diploma) from a recognised university, starting a postgraduate programme at an overseas university. Final-year students can apply with proof of a first class before the end of June. At least 50 awards a year.
- Deadline or window
- The 2026 round closed on 30 April 2026; the next round usually opens early in the year
- FoundationMaster's, PhD and postdoctoral
J N Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
J N Tata Endowment (Tata Trusts)
- Value
- Loan scholarship; the amount is decided case by case after an interview
- Who can apply
- Indians who have completed their undergraduate studies at a recognised Indian university, going abroad for higher studies. Selection is on merit only.
- Deadline or window
- The 2026–27 form window ran from 5 January to 29 March 2026; expect a similar window in early 2027
- FoundationMaster's
Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship
Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation
- Value
- Full or part scholarships given as repayable, interest-free financial assistance (amount not fixed)
- Who can apply
- Merit-based, for Indian students of academic excellence going on to postgraduate study in India or abroad. Check the official page for fields and other conditions.
- Deadline or window
- Applications are closed for now; check the official page for the next call
Scholarship calendar for 2027 entry
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| October 2026 to February 2027 | Apply for your courses; automatic university awards are decided with your offer. |
| 2027 (dates not yet confirmed) | Government of Ireland scholarship call. The 2026 call closed on 12 March 2026. Check the official page for dates. |
| February to May 2027 | Separate applications for university awards such as UCD Global Excellence; results follow within a few weeks. |
| April to June 2027 | Accept your award, update your budget and pay the tuition deposit needed for the visa. |
Eligibility and documents
What selectors usually look for
- Strong grades: a first-class or high 2:1-equivalent degree for most competitive awards.
- An offer for an eligible full-time programme.
- Non-EU fee status.
- A clear statement on your goals and how the course fits them, for application-based awards.
- For the government scholarship: academic excellence and a strong link between your studies and future plans.
Documents to keep ready
- Offer letter
- Transcripts and degree certificate
- English test score report
- Scholarship statement
- References
- CV
- Passport copy
How to apply, step by step
- Apply for your course first; most awards need an offer.
- Check which awards are automatic and which need a separate form.
- Watch for the Government of Ireland call early in the year and prepare your documents in advance.
- Write a short, specific statement for each scholarship.
- Ask referees early if references are required.
- Submit before the deadline and accept any award in writing.
Want help with your scholarship essay?Our counsellor will review your statement and references so they match your course application.
Tips to improve your chances
- 01
Apply for the course early
Automatic awards are given as offers are made, and some programmes fill early.
- 02
Prepare for the government call
The GOI-IES window is short. Have your statement and references ready by January.
- 03
Look for targeted awards
Country and subject awards, like UCD's Aryabhata scholarship, have smaller applicant pools.
- 04
Remember the visa funds
Even with a scholarship you still need to show living-cost funds. Check the official visa guidance for the current amount.
Scholarships in Ireland: FAQs
Is there a fully funded scholarship in Ireland for Indian students?
The Government of Ireland scholarship covers one year's tuition and gives a €10,000 stipend, which fully funds most one-year master's. Places are limited to 60 a year.
Can undergraduates get scholarships in Ireland?
Yes. UCD, DCU and other universities offer partial awards, and UCD's Aryabhata scholarship is aimed at Indian STEM undergraduates.
Do I need to apply separately for university scholarships?
It depends. Some are automatic with your offer; others need a separate form after you are admitted.
Does a scholarship change the visa requirements?
You still need to show funds for living costs. A fee waiver can reduce the tuition you must pay before applying.
When should I start?
About a year before your intake, so you can apply for courses in the autumn and for scholarships in early spring.
Sources
- HEA: Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- UCD Global: scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- DCU: international scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- EACEA: Erasmus Mundus catalogue (opens in a new tab)
- Ireland in India: visas for Ireland (opens in a new tab)
Researched on 26 Oct 2026. Scholarship values, eligibility and deadlines change every year; always confirm on the official page before you apply.